Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37,925, John Feith, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Feith John or Fitch or Fight
S 37,925-
CONTENTS

17.943.
Connecticut
John Feith
of Simsbury in the state of Conn t who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Shepard of the Mass tts line, for the term of 99. War
Died Oct 15, 1825 (99)
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 5th of May 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2d of Dec r 1820 and sent to Hon. E. Phelps. H. Rep t
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1820 224. 2 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 March 1821 48.
27 mo 27/31 4/30 $272 : 2
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
May 1. 1820.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, County of HARTFORD, ss. County Court, or Court of Common Pleas, holden at Hartford in said County, on the 2 nd  Tuesday day of November 1820
By special order of the Chief Judge of said Court ON this 2 nd day of November 1820 personally appeared in open Court, the same Court being a Court of record for said County, having the power of fine and imprisonment, John Keith alias Knight alias aged Fitch years, resident in Simsbury in the County of Hartford,
who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolu- tionary War, as follows: I John Keith, Knight or Fitch resi- dent in Simsbury, County of Hartford do testi- fy that I am a German by birth that I deser- ted from the British army & enlisted into the American Army in the month of February 1778 was enlisted by an
“And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.”
Ensign Bradley for the term of 3 years I soon after upon his informing me that it would be more for my interest to enlist during the war as it was possi- ble the war would not last so long I enlisted during the war - the first company which I joined was command- ed by Capt. Ball or Paul - I was trans- ferred from one company to another the names of the various captains under whom I served I do not remember except that of Capt. Tr

Huller - one Holbrook was Lieutenant of the company to which I belonged a part of the time the Regiment to which I was an- nexed was at first commanded by Col.
Shepard afterwards by Col. Jackson who discharged me at the conclusion of the war which discharge I have lost -
I was at the battles of the White Plains & at Morrisena - I served from the time of my enlistment in February 1778 until my discharge which was in the Summer or Autumn of 1783 at
Newburgh in the State of New York In presence of his Thomas Day John F. Haight marks
Sworn to and declared by said John Keith alias Haight on the alias Fitch on the 2 nd day of November 1820 before said Court, and it is the opinion of said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is
dollars and
cents.
I, Thomas Chester
Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hartford aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of said Court. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 2 nd day of November. 1820
Th. Chester
Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Hartford.

14
Hon: E. Phelps Rec. 17 Nov. 1820
J. S. Edwards Esq. Department of War

House of Reps - Nov 10 1820
In Herewith I transmit John Firth, Right or Fitchs application for a pension. In obedience to your direction he has stated the time of entering the service - length of service & manner of leaving it etc -
The former declaration, I cannot find. It was delivered to me to transmit to you with his second declaration, & I suppose from my, not being able to find it among my papers, that it was forwarded with the papers of Philo Treat.
The original application I have had in my possession with your official memoranda upon it, & know that it bore date the 5 th day of May 1818 as stated in his declaration.
I am very respectfully yours E. Phelps

December 22, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
JOHN FEITH S. 37925 BA-J/MLB
Mr. Howard J. Banker 14 Myrtle Avenue Huntington, New York
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of John Fitch, said to have been an aged pensioner at the time of his death on or about October 14, 1825.
The record has been found of a John Feith, Fitch or Fight, which follows as found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 37925, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
The soldier was a German by birth; the date and exact place of birth and names of his parents are not given. His name in "Dutch" was Johannes Feight or Feith.
John Feith deserted from the British Army and enlisted, place not stated, into the American Army, sometime in February, 1778, for the period of the war, and enrolled under the name John Fitch, served as private under Captains Ball, Fuller and other captains, names not designated, and in Colonels Shepard's and Jackson's Massachusetts regiment, was in the battle of Morrisania, and was discharged in the summer or autumn of 1783. He stated that during his service he was in the battle of White Plains, but gave no further details of that service.
John Feith applied for pension May 5, 1818, and the claim was allowed. In 1820, he was aged sixty-eight years and a resident of Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut.
It is not stated whether or not the soldier ever married. He died October 15, 1825.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension and name of person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General

Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
John Feith Certificate No. 17943 Issued December 2, 1920 Rate, $8 per month Commenced May 5, 1918 Acts 18 th March, 1918 and May 1, 1920 Connecticut Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

1936 Dec 22 - Stick to Howard J. Barker ————— M.R.B.
37925
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 37925
John Lee Stick Rev Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 668
[Arrangement of 1870.]

see whether he has a claim
Chimbury Ct } bounds — Octob 9 }
J. L. Edwards Esquire Pension Office Washington City
Ms A. 9. 2. 25 Somersworth (90)

Simsbury Ct - Oct 6 - 1820
Dear Sir
I transmit the application of John Faith, Fiegt or Fild. Thro' mistake, his original application & proof of service, were sent with the paper relating to the petition of Philo Treat. He is a German, deserted from the British, & joined the American army, where he served, with fidelity and honor. He is inform, and very ignorant. He can neither read, nor write. He does not even know how his name was spelled. He informs me how it was pronounced in Germany, & how he believes it was pronounced in the English language, after he joined the American Army. An inflection was suggested, as an expedient to evade the penalty of desertion, if he should be so unfortunate as to be taken a prisoner. He has been supported by public charity, & if he should be placed on the pension roll, I think the munificence of Government will be enjoyed by him but a short time -
I am very respectfully Yours & P. Phelps -

John Fitch on Right or Right - Connt.
see roll
on the Roll John Fitch 2 d Feby 1779 - War Col: Shepard, Mass -
Entitled under both Laws - Let the pension commence May 5. 1818
The applicant must state in his declaration, the time of his entering the service, the length of service, and the time & manner of leaving it. Was he in any other company than Captain Fullers? -
If the former declaration is in existence, let it be forwarded to this office - or proof of the date of it will answer -
Pension Office 25 Sept. 1820.
41 Oct 5

John, Keith Knight or Fitch
Ph

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, County of HARTFORD,
ss. Special County Court, or Court of Common Pleas, holden by order of the Chief Judge of said Court, on the first Tuesday of August, 1820.
ON this 2 nd day of August, 1820, personally appeared in open Court, the same Court being a Court of record for said County, having the power of fine and imprisonment,
John Fitch or Fright aged sixty eight years, resident in Simsbury in the County of Hartford,
who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: in a Regiment commanded by Col
Shepherd in the Massachusetts line & Capt Fitch's company & was called in ditch Johannes Fright or Fitch & to avoid the punishment for desertion if taken by the British his officers enrolled him he believes by the name of John Fitch & that he was called in conversation Fitch or Fright & Fitch that he applied for a pension by petition dated the 6 th of May 1818 which was returned for proof of service.
"And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed."
My estate real or personal except his wearing apparel & has been supported by public charity & that I have no family & am unable to support myself being very infirm
John his Fitch or Fright. mark

Sworn to and declared by said John Fitch or Fright on the second day of August, 1820, before said Court, and it is the opinion of said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is
said John Fitch or Fright has no property except wearing apparel.
dollars and
cents.
I, Thomas Chester
Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hartford aforesaid do hereby certify that
the foregoing is a true copy of the record of said Court. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said
Court on this 21 day of August 1820
Th. Chester
Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Hartford.

14 Myrtle Ave., Huntington N.Y. Dec. 16, 1936
Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen,
Will you please give me such data as your office can furnish concerning John Fitch, said to have been an aged pensioner, who died on or about Oct. 14, 1825.
Sincerely yours,
Howard L. Baxter per M.S.B.
Dec. 7
This letter is a duplicate of one written yesterday and lost on the way to the P.O. It may have been picked up and mailed
M.S.B.